Koninklijke Philips Corporation N.v.

Jonathan Thomas Sutton

Balasundar Iyyavu Raju

Shyam Bharat

Frank Michael Weber

Peter Bingley

Tilman Wekel

Mckee Dunn Poland

Jeffry E Powers

William Tao Shi

Ralf Seip

Ivan Salgo

Shriram Sethuraman

Harald Greiner

Alvin Chen

Sean Joseph Kyne

Raghavendra Srinivasa Naidu

Arthur Bouwman

Jonathan Fincke

Martha Gail Grewe Wilson

Frank Enslin

Erik Korsten

Alexander Groth

A method and system is for assisting a user in positioning an ultrasound probe relative to a subject's body. In use, the user moves the probe through a series of positions, and ultrasound image data is captured for each position, the data at each position corresponding to a particular imaging view of the anatomical region being imaged. An assessment procedure () is operable to process ultrasound data for different imaging views, and to determine for the data for each view a rating, representative of the suitability of the data for that view for observing one or more anatomical features or deriving one or more clinical parameters from the data. Guidance feedback is generated () for the user for assisting the user in positioning the probe, wherein the guidance feedback is based on a history () of image view quality over time over the course of the imaging procedure. For example, a trend in image view quality over time may be determined and output to a user, from which the user can quickly tell whether they are moving toward (in the case of increasing quality) or away from (decreasing quality) an optimum imaging position.

Ultrasound guidance method and system

An interface unit () for connecting between an ultrasound sensing apparatus () and a patient monitor () for providing ultrasound monitoring functionality of one or more physiological or anatomical parameters based on processing of ultrasound data. The interface unit includes means for processing acquired ultrasound data to derive measurements of one or more physiological or anatomical parameters and is configured for outputting said derived measurements to a coupled patient monitor unit, e.g. for display and/or trending by the patient monitor.

Ultrasound interface unit and method

A method () and device for deriving an estimate of intracranial blood pressure based on motion data for a wall of an intracranial blood vessel, intracranial blood flow velocity, and a blood pressure signal measured at a location outside the brain. The method is based on identifying () a time offset between the two intracranial signals (vessel wall movement and vessel blood flow), and then applying () this offset to the blood pressure signal acquired from outside the brain to obtain a fourth signal, indicative of estimated intracranial blood pressure.

Intracranial blood pressure estimation method and device

An ultrasound control unit () is for coupling with an ultrasound transducer unit (). The control unit is adapted to control a drive configuration or setting of the transducers of the transducer unit, each drive setting having a known power consumption level associated with it. The control unit includes a control module () adapted to adjust the drive setting from a first setting to a second setting, the second having a lower associated power consumption that the first. The second setting is tested by an analysis module (), the analysis module adapted to determine a measure of reliability of ultrasound data acquired by the transducer unit, for the purpose of deriving at least one physiological parameter, when configured in the second setting. The second setting is only used if its determined reliability passes a pre-defined reliability condition.

Ultrasound control unit

An ultrasound imaging system is for determining stroke volume and/or cardiac output. The imaging system may include a transducer unit for acquiring ultrasound data of a heart of a subject (or an input for receiving the acquired ultrasound data), and a controller. The controller is adapted to implement a two-step procedure, the first step being an initial assessment step, and the second being an imaging step having two possible modes depending upon the outcome of the assessment. In the initial assessment procedure, it is determined whether regurgitant ventricular flow is present. This is performed using Doppler processing techniques applied to an initial ultrasound data set. If regurgitant flow does not exist, stroke volume is determined using segmentation of 3D ultrasound image data to identify and measure the volume of the left or right ventricle at each of end systole and end-diastole, the difference between them giving a measure of stroke volume. If regurgitant flow does exist, stroke volume is determined using Doppler techniques applied to ultrasound data continuously collected throughout a cardiac cycle.

Ultrasound imaging system and method

The invention provides an ultrasound processing unit. A controller () of the unit is adapted to receive ultrasound data of an anatomical region, for example of the heart. The controller processes the ultrasound data over a period of time to monitor and detect whether alignment of a particular anatomical feature () represented in the data relative to a field of view () of the transducer unit is changing over time. In the event that the alignment is changing, the controller generates an output signal for communicating this to a user, allowing a user to be alerted at an early stage to likelihood of misalignment and loss of imaging or measurement capability.

Ultrasound processing unit and method, and imaging system

A medical imaging element support unit is for use in fixing a medical imaging element () releasably against a region of skin of a subject. The includes a support body (), having a base for engaging with skin of a subject in use and having a coupling means () for releasably coupling the medical imaging element () to the support body in use. A pneumatic positioning mechanism facilitates adjustment of a position of the medical imaging element relative to the support body, this being fluidly supplied by an air pump mechanism. The same air pump mechanism facilitates releasable fixation of the support body () to the skin, through creation of a configurable suction force at the skin engagement surface.

Support unit for a medical imaging element

The present disclosure describes a therapeutic ultrasound system configured to adaptively transmit ultrasound pulses toward microbubbles in a treatment region to remove an occlusion. In some examples, the system may include a treatment pulse unit configured to transmit an ultrasound pulse to a treatment region of a subject, the treatment region including a plurality of microbubbles. An echo detection unit may be configured to receive one or more echoes responsive to the ultra sound pulse. In some examples, the system may also include a data processor configured to identify, using data associated with the echoes, at least one echo signature indicative of a dynamic state of the microbubbles in response to the ultrasound pulse. A controller may be configured to adjust one or more parameters of an additional ultrasound pulse transmitted to the treatment region via the treatment pulse unit based on the at least one echo signature.

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Boston, MA, United States of America

Jonathan Thomas Sutton